The Foundation of Helping Someone feel Positive

I sometimes envy people that can get over their feelings and problems quickly, they don't need to talk about it and can just deal with it all by themselves.

I am one of those girls who wears their heart on their sleeve, who can be very sensitive and empathetic. I like to talk about what makes me stressed or upset or angry, it helps me release the negativity. Sometimes you just need someone to make you feel positive again.

I can understand that some people like to deal with things on their own, but what's to stop them from helping another deal with their problems an alternative way?

It's very hard to feel positive once you feel down, it takes a lot of will power and that's difficult when you feel everything around you and in yourself is negative. It helps to have someone believe in you, to reaffirm those positive thoughts that are struggling to get your attention in an ocean of pessimism.

Here are the three things I believe are the foundation of making someone feel better:

1 - REASSURANCE - We want to feel like you understand what we're saying, that it's okay to feel what we feel, that it will all be okay. Some where deep down in us we know this, but it's hard to listen to when we think the negative thoughts make more sense, when we get trapped in a circle of bad thoughts.

2 - COMFORT - Give us a hug, put an arm around us or even simply place your hand on ours. A simple touch can make all the difference, it can be a focus point, it shows us that you care, that you're attention is on us which gives us something positive to distract us from the negative.

3 - SAFETY - Let us know that you're always someone we can turn to, that you'll never betray our trust and you'll never laugh at us. Let us know that you always have our back, a small problem to you may be insignificant but to us it could be very stressful and worrying, knowing that you won't belittle us for it means a lot.

Of course there are ways of overcoming negative thoughts on your own, but it helps to have someone there with you to guide you out.
The worst part can be feeling alone, but you never are, there is always someone out there that is feeling the same, just as there is someone out there who cares.

Just think positive, focus on the happy things, and believe it will get better.
And remember, we're never alone.